https://doi.org/10.31261/CHOWANNA.2004.23.13
The article attempts to answer questions concerning the tendency of Machiavellians to manipulate their surroundings, whether there are connections between Machiavellianism and risk-taking, and the use of manipulative strategies in conflict situations. The relationship between certain personality variables and the tendency to manipulate is already defined through their very definitions—this is the case with the Machiavellian personality syndrome or the “hardball practitioner” personality described by Etheredge. It is also important to search for other human traits whose connection to this tendency is not so obvious. Contemporary personality theory, understood as a set of traits, assumes the existence of superordinate traits that can be distinguished through factor analysis. Competing theories include the “Big Three” and the “Big Five” models. The authors, in seeking personality correlates of Machiavellianism, employed the former approach. The referenced studies analyze the relationships between basic personality dimensions described by Eysenck (extraversion–introversion, neuroticism, psychoticism), the Machiavellianism syndrome, risk-taking tendency, and declared readiness to engage in manipulative behavior in specific social situations. In the situations analyzed by the participants, the use of manipulative strategies as a means of resolving conflict was associated with varying levels of risk. An individual pursuing goals in a social context may use social manipulation, exerting influence in such a way as to maximize the chances of eliciting the desired behavior from a partner, while simultaneously attempting to prevent the partner from realizing that they are being influenced. When predicting the likelihood of such behavior, in addition to situational and motivational factors, as well as the subject's skills and knowledge, personality factors must also be considered. The relationship between certain personality variables and the tendency to manipulate is already defined through their very definitions—this is the case with the Machiavellian personality syndrome or the “hardball practitioner” personality described by Etheredge. It is also important to search for other human traits whose connection to this tendency is not so obvious. Contemporary personality theory, understood as a set of traits, assumes the existence of superordinate traits that can be distinguished through factor analysis. Competing theories include the “Big Three” and the “Big Five” models.
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Vol. 2 No. 23 (2004)
Published: 2025-08-18
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